...or that time I jumped into the freezing cold water.
Trail details
Distance: 5.6 miles
Elevation gain: 1,049 ft
Type: Out & back
Approx. time: 2h 42min
Dogs allowed: Yes
Permit required: Yes, a permit and an adventure pass are required
Cedar Creek Falls has something very special about it... and unfortunately many people know about it. Yet, I still recommend doing this hike. Just be aware you will need a permit, which will be checked and you will see a lot of people.
But let's talk about this hike. First of all, I highly recommend to check Alltrails reviews before going. And here is why: you are going to see a gorgeous waterfall, but only if you go at the right time. This is California and the summers get very hot and dry, so there won't be any water left. However, if you go right after heavy rains, you might not be able to cross the creeks. So plan ahead, check reviews and talk to people, especially if you would like to bring dogs, as they need to cross the creeks with you.
We were lucky. We paid attention. And we went at the perfect time :)
We started early in the morning to avoid most of the crowds and I do think it paid off. The trail starts downhill, as you are making your way into the valley, actually you will walk down for 2 miles straight. It can be cold in the mornings, so I would recommend bringing a jacket. The views on the way down are beautiful and you can even see the hills behind which the waterfall is hiding.
Once you make it to the end of the trail, which you can see in the picture, it is time for the first creek crossing. There are a total of 3, with the second being the "toughest" or deepest. The water is cold, so be prepared. We brought some extra shoes for the water, which we kept on all the way to the waterfall and back to the first crossing as the distance between crossings is not very far and it's not worth switching shoes in between. However, at this point the trail is fairly flat with just some smaller rocks to walk over and doing that in water shoes is doable.
If you bring dogs, please do not let your dogs drink the water. There might be some algae which could be dangerous for your dog to ingest. Again, I would check the reviews as you might need to be able to carry your dog through the creeks if the water is too deep or the current too strong.
After the last crossing you are deep in the valley and there is no sun (well... at least not at the time we went based on the position of the sun). Because of the time of year we chose, everything was so lush though and it was just so wonderful, especially when you get the first glimpse of the falls. The waterfall was certainly much bigger than I expected, so I was very excited.
At the waterfall you will find plenty of big rocks to sit on and take a little break. And if you are brave enough, you might as well jump in the ice cold water... freezing cold!
After some snacks we made our way back. First through the crossings and then steadily up the hills. With all the beautiful views you get plenty of excuses to stop and take some pictures (aka catch your breath). You will be in the sun the entire way up, so definitely make use of the excuse a couple of times. There are also a few benches along the way if needed.
Once you get back to the entrance of the trail make sure to check out, so rangers won't need to search for you at the end of the day thinking you are still hiking somewhere.
Big thumbs up for this one!
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